Aston Villa record signing U-turn as medical claim made after Newcastle United snub
Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby is understood to be closing in on a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad.
It comes a year after Villa signed the winger from Bayern Leverkusen for a club-record £51.9million fee. Newcastle United were long-term admirers of the winger from his time in the Bundesliga but were unable to strike a deal as Villa swooped in.
Diaby scored on his Premier League debut for Unai Emery’s side in a 5-1 defeat against Newcastle at St James’ Park last August. The 25-year-old went on to contribute 10 goals and nine assists in 54 appearances in all competitions last season.
Despite a promising debut campaign, Diaby is set to be on the move once again this summer with Al Ittihad widely reported to be closing in on a deal. Diaby missed Villa’s 3-0 pre-season opener win against Walsall on Wednesday as a result.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Diaby is nearing a ‘big-money move’ to Al Ittihad. Sources in Saudi Arabia have also suggested the player has already arrived at the club for his medical.
Al Ittihad, like Newcastle, are majority owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. The Jeddah-based club, whom The Magpies played in a friendly in January 2022, finished fifth in the Saudi Pro League during the 2023-24 campaign.
Diaby’s arrival would add to the club’s high-profile contingent of French players with N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema joining the club last summer. Al Ittihad have recently appointed former France and Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc in charge.